Межзвёздный скиталец

           Fathernodded.

           “Well,that’sLee,”Labancontinued.“Iseen’minSaltLake.He’saregularson-of-a-gun.Gotnineteenwivesandfiftychildren,theyallsay.An’he’srankcrazyonreligion.Now,what’shefollowin’usupforthroughthisGod-forsakencountry?”

           Ourweary,doomeddriftingwenton.Thelittlesettlements,whereverwaterandsoilpermitted,werefromtwentytofiftymilesapart.Betweenstretchedthebarrennessofsandandalkalianddrought.Andateverysettlementourpeacefulattemptstobuyfoodwerevain.Theydeniedusharshly,andwantedtoknowwhoofushadsoldthemfoodwhenwedrovethemfromMissouri.ItwasuselessonourparttotellthemwewerefromArkansas.FromArkansaswetrulywere,buttheyinsistedonourbeingMissourians.

           AtBeaver,fivedays’journeysouthfromFillmore,wesawLeeagain.Andagainwesawhard-riddenhorsestetheredbeforethehouses.ButwedidnotseeLeeatParowan.

           CedarCitywasthelastsettlement.Laban,whohadriddenonahead,camebackandreportedtofather.Hisfirstnewswassignificant.

           “IseenthatLeeskedaddlingoutasIridin,Captain.An’there’smoremen-folkan’horsesinCedarCitythanthesizeoftheplace’dwarrant.